The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1887-09-29


You wished boarding place, sirP"
''For a few weeks only. If your
folks could accommodate me, it would
save tramp from the village every
morning" he replied.
They will take you, think"
She gave him sidelong glance, and
saw that he was very handsome, after
q bronzed, manly fashion.
''Are you-you married?" Millie
asked, the question springing from her
lips before She could realise how ride
ulous it was in her to ask it.
Her cheeks were in a flame as he
looked at her, laughing musicany..
mo, I'm not" he declared.
He added, with an audaciousness
that covered Mile with yet deeper
confusion:
Il have in mind a young lady, how
ever, to whom | mean to make pro-
posal of marriage as soon as we be-
come little better acquainted.
"Yonder is our house, and-I don't
think it will rain, after all" said
Millie.
And sudden pull at the reins
caused Billy to amble somewhat faster,
''Of course he had to say something
after my presumption" she reasoned,
while her heart beat in fashion that
resentment did not excite
Motherly Mrs. Leaver was too oblic-
ing to refuse the strangers request.
and Mr.. Bronson was assigned to her
best spare chamber, over the sitting
room.
''Millie can help ME about the extra
work, if you can put up with plain
fare" she said.
AnG the next two weeks were the
shortest and happiest Millie had ever
known.
Don't set too much by him till
you're sure he means something by his
attentions" cautioned Mrs. Leaver
one day.
II enjoy talking with him because
he is so jolly-that is all, mother" said
Millie, as though she were the most
heartless coquette in the world.
But the observant mother knew
better
Mind what 1 say, child" Mrs.
Leaver persisted.
The very next morning, as Millie
was filling vase with fresh flowers in
Mr.. Bronson's room, she noticed a
photograph on a small easel on the
dressing-table.
1t was of a woman, young and very
beautiful, although there was some
thing in the slightly hollow cheeks
that indicated failing health in the
original.
Millie looked at it with a sudden
pang of jealousy. This changed to
different vet keener pain as she took
it up and read upon the back these
words, written with pen:
my first and only love-"
And underneath a name and date,
as follows:
Maud Hawley Bronson, married December
23rd, 1885, died February Ord, 1886. ''P. L. B."
As Millie's gaze devoured these lines,
it grew suddenly dark about her. She
would have tainted had she not been
called to more practical action by the
voice Of Dick, her twelve-year-old
brother, calling from the foot of the
stairs:
''NIillie! Miller
"Yes, in a momentw she responded.
ITO think that he is a widower, and
as happy and thoughtless as a school
boy, and his poor, beautiful wife in
her grave only four months" whirled
through Miles brain as she ran into
her own room to compose her face be-
fore the glass, that her mother might
not see her suffering.
why don't you come along, and
not keep your beau waiting all day?"
came again from below, in accents
that might have been heard for an
eighth of mile in all directions.
There was no further danger of
Miles fainting away. Her heart
bounded, her cheeks famed.
paul Bronson waiting for mew she
exclaimed.
She compressed her lips for one in
tense moment, and then said:
II will see him, and IT,"
What she would do was left un-
spoken. She ran down the stairs, and
found Paul in the porch, watching a
rather spirited horse from the village
"Obliged to drive over to Ridgway
ten miles-thought you might like
to 60" he explained.
Better ride out with yer beau" in
terpolated Dick, with a youngsters
delight in an older sisters confusion.
''Put on your hat. Millie-it is warm
other dress, for you are enchanting
enough in the one you have on, y
added Mr. Bronson.
Il will 90 with him." thought Millie,
with vague determination to make
this heartless widower suffer as he de-
served for his levity.
As she went for her hat she met her
mother face to face.
''Millie, what has happened?" was
the anxious inquiry.
Nothing, mother" trying to break
away from the gentle, detaining hand.
Tell me, child. You are pale as a
ghost"
Pm going to ride, mother. Please
let me gow
And she broke away, and in a mo-
ment more was seated beside Paul
Bronson in the light trap.
They were we'll out upon the shady
road, with the soft June breeze and
piney fra agrance blowing in their faces,
before n word was uttered.
''How very dignified you have be-
come. Millie!" he at length said.
'There are occasions when it Is
eminently proper to be dignified." she
frigidly retorted.
He looked at her in qu;zzical sur
prise.
''Indeed!" he remarked.
And then, after an interval of "elo-
quent silence:"
You remember, Millie, that when I
first met sou | said l had certain
young lady in mind to whom | meant
to make a proposal of marriage when
we became little better acquainted? ?''
Il remembsr," Millie returned, in a
tone intended to express her most
bitter scorn, ''that you have made a
great many absurd and-and sacri-
Iegious remarks; and you ought to be
ashamed of yourself-there"
Paul Bronson looked to see if there
was the light of insanity in Miles
eyes: he saw on!y indignation and
tears.